DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Election/Restrictions
Claims 8, 14, and 17-20 remain withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 04 August 2025.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 13 February 2026. These drawings are acceptable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lombardi et al. (US 2017/0284582 hereinafter “Lombardi”).
In regards to claim 1, Lombardi discloses a blood pressure cuff adapter, comprising:
a body (12, see fig. 6) having:
a distal portion (bottom in fig. 6) including a top surface (86, 90, 92 94, 96, 98);
a proximal portion (top in fig. 6);
a substantially cylindrical inner wall forming a central opening of the body, the inner wall extending from the distal portion to the proximal portion;
an outer wall substantially concentric with the inner wall;
a substantially planar first surface (50) extending, radially outwardly, from the outer wall to a first end; and
a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the opening,
wherein: the distal portion includes a substantially planar second surface (80) extending, radially outwardly, from the inner wall to a second end, and a third surface (84) extending distally from the second end to a third end, and
the top surface of the distal portion extends, proximally and radially outwardly, from the third end to the first end of the first surface (shown in fig. 6).
In regards to claim 2, Lombardi further discloses the outer wall comprises a substantially cylindrical wall, and the second surface extends, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from the inner wall to the second end (shown in fig. 6).
In regards to claim 3, Lombardi further discloses the first surface extends, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from the outer wall to the first end (shown in fig. 6).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-13 and 15-16 are allowed.
Claims 4-7, 9, and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH whose telephone number is (571)270-0505. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew D. Troutman can be reached at (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679 03/27/2026